Toy



May 7, 1946.

J. LOWELL ETAL TOY Filed Ju'ly 2, 1945 Joss/DH LOWELL BERN/Mevr C. 15E/2G ATTORNEY.

l INVENTORS.

Patented May 7, 1946 TOY Joseph Lowell and Bernhardt C. Berg, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 2, 1945, Serial No. 602,724

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to that class of inventions which are primarily designed as a toy for the amusement of children, but it is also intended to have an educational purpose in that it demonstrates some of the elementary principles of mechanics. It illustrates the action of gravity; wheel and axle, counter-weight walking beam and the effect of changing the center of gravity.

We illustrate our invention by means of the accompanying drawing, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views. Figure l is a vertical central section of the device, the dot-dash lines showing the bucket in the discharge position. Figure 2 is a front elevation. Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 2. In the design illustrated the column l and the base II are integral, but the manufacturing cost might be reduced by making them separate and secured to each other. Figure 4 is a perspective View of the bucket.

The construction of our device is as follows: I0 is an upright column having a base II. The column and base are preferably made in one piece, but if desired can be made in two parts glued or otherwise fastened together. I2 is a passageway or central hollow core Within the said column and base. This passage-way is approximately vertical and parallel with the said column, but it describes a serni-circular path as it passes through the base I I. This passage-Way I2, and its curved portion I4 is adapted to receive therein a plurality of balls I3, for a purpose which is more fully hereinafter described. The balls are introduced into the passage-way I2 through the opening I5 Where the passage-way emerges from the base II. Means are provided for preventing the balls from running back and out of the passage-Way. This can be accomplished in several ways, but in the forms illustrated a check-spring I6 is located in the passage-way I4. This check-spring allows the balls to pass into the passage-way and prevents their return. The balls are introduced into the passage-way by manual pressure, or`by a blow, such as that given by a mallet. Near the upper end of the column I0, the vertical part of the passage-way is closed by a downwardly directed discharge passage-way I9 which extends from this main passage-way through vthe front wall of the column I0. Located inthe passage-way I2 at its junction with the passage-way I9 there is secured a soft spring 20 which limits the movement to one ball for each blow or each manual pressure.

J ournalled on the shaft 38 in an extension of the column 30 and operating in the slot 2| is the 501 in the form of a reverse curve communicating sheave 22, over which travels the cord 23. One end of this cord is connected to a bucket 25 by means of the bail 26. The bucket is triangular in shape and of a size that will contain one ball I3. Attached to the other end of the cord 23 is a counter-weight 3l. The cord 23 is held within limits by passing through the guide 21. To still further guide and control the movement of the bucket the column I I is provided with a T-shaped slot located on its face and adapted to receive the pins I8 which together with the bucket travel up and down in the said slot. On the descending movement of the bucket the said pins nally reach the bottom of the slot at the point 39 and the further movement of the bucket consists of a tipping fulcrumed on the said pins and causing the ball to be discharged whence it rolls down the ramp 29 and in position to repeat the cycle.

The spring 20 wraps itself around the top ball of the column of balls, for the purpose of limiting the action to one ball at a time. When the top ball reaches the spring 20 the action of the spring causes the center of gravity to move forwardly as the ball is pushed upwardly, causing the tcp ball to roll down the passage-way I9 and into the bucket 25. The weight of the ball added to that of the bucket causes the bucket 25 and the ball I3 to fall by gravity to the base I I. The bucket 251s provided with pins I8 on its inner corners and these pins travel in the T-slot 3l, guiding the bucket to the base and when the said pins reach the bottom of the slot 3l at 39 they act as a fulcrum and they upset the bucket, which allows the ball to roll out onto the ramp 29 in position ready to be re-entered through the opening I5. This is accomplished by the application of manual pressure. The bucket with its weight reduced is then drawn up by means of the counterweight 3| and the cord 23, into the discharge position opposite the passage-way I 9.

4What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the class described, the combination of an upright column having a passage-way there-through and adapted to contain a plurality of balls, one above another together with ball entering and ball discharging passage-ways; a yieldable check-spring in said ball entering passage-way; the ball entering passage way being with the column passage so that manual force causes each ball to enter, one at a time through lthe said check spring into the upright passage way to enter, one at a time through the said check-spring into the upright passage-way and to move upwardly therein; means for carrying the balls also one at a time from the said discharge passage-Way to the said ball entering passage- Way, said means consisting of a bucket so shaped and so positioned as to receive the ball emerging from the said ball discharging passage-way, said ball and bucket falling by gravity to said checkspring; means for returning said bucket to said discharge passage-way, said means comprising a sheave revolvably mounted on said column, a counter-weight of suicent weight as to lift the empty bucket, said bucket and said counterweight being connected by a cord running over said sheave JOSEPH LOWELL.

BERNHARDT C. BERG. 

